Mr. Peter Lennon:

I thank the Deputy. As I worked on the health identifier legislation, I hope I can provide an answer. As Deputies Cullinane and Durkan pointed out, we are moving to a situation where we are proposing that someone's PPS number will be the principal unique identifier. However, by way of background, when the health identifier legislation was being put together in 2012 and 2013 - it was enacted in 2014 - it was determined that there should be a unique identifier for the health service. It was determined that it would be a stand-alone number for the health service. That has been assigned to individuals. As I understand it, everybody is entitled to have one.